Lubricating wick and method of making same



April 18 1951 R. J. HARKENRIDER 2,980,471

LBRICATING WICK AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed April l0, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 `vf Zyl 10 April 18, 1961 R. J. HARKENRIDER LUBRIQATING WICK AND METHOD OF' MAKING SAME Filed April 10. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l fave/Z074 Ewen@ MyW/@Wezep April 18, 1951 R. J. l-mRKENRIDER` 2,980,471

LUBRICATING WICK AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed April 10, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 LUBRICATING WICK AND METHOD F MAKING SAME Robert I. Harkenrider, Winona, Minn., assignor to Gladys D. Miller, Winona, Minn.

Filed Apr. 10, 1959, Ser. No. '805,407

Claims. (Cl. 30S-132) My invention relates to a lubricating wick yand method of making same, and more particularly, to a simplied lubricating wick adapted for use in the axle cap of diesel locomotive traction motor suspension bearings.

Lubricators of the type to which my invention relates employ la lubricating wick that lifts, -by capillary action, lubricant from the oil chamber of the axle cap and applies it to the axle journal through a window opening formed in the bearing assembly at one side thereof.

Lubricating wicks yfor lubricators of this type have in the past been in the form of a felt body provided with a thickened upper portion formed with an arcuate surface which is complementary to that of the journal that it engages and a depending projection that extends from the thickened portion into the oi-l reservoir of the axle cap to supply the oil to the thickened portion, See, for instance, my Patent No. 2,798,611, granted May 17, 1955.

Such bodies are conventionally made by individually stamping them out of lfelt sheeting. -Due to the irregular shapes of these bodies, the dies employed must in turn be rather complicated in shape and resulting 'felt Wastage high. Furthermore, the thickenedupper portions require a relatively large window opening in the bearing assembly, with consequent reduced bearing surface in contact with the journal.

A principal object of my invention is to provide a simplied lubricating Wick that eliminates the need for complicated forming dies and undesirable wastage of the expensive felt material.

A further principal object of the invention is to provide a method of making lubricating wicks which reduces manufacturing operations to several simplilied and inexpensively performed steps.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a lubricating wick which is of relatively narrow dimension vertically of the bearing assembly window through which it is to extend, which permits window openings of reduced size with consequent increase of bearing surface.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lubricating body of simpliied design which is. etlicient in'use and adapted for a wide variety of applications.

Other objects, uses and advantages will be obvious or become apparent upon a consideration of the following detailed description and the application drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through a motor suspension bearing and the axle to Which the bearing is applied, showing in elevation a lubricator assembly employing one embodiment of. my invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective View of the lubricating body shown in Figure l -as received in its holder member and -applied to the axle;v

Figure 3 is a fragmental elevationa-l view of the lubricator assembly shown in Figure l, as Viewed from the side of the axle to be lubricated;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a piece of felt sheeting or 2,98?,47l Patented Apr. 1,8, 1961 blank from which lubricating bodies are formed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a lubricating body as formed lfrom the blank of Figure 4 by an appropriate die forming operation;

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate several Vconsecutive steps in the processing of one form of lubricating body in accordance with my invention;

Figure 8 shows the lubricating body of Figures 6 and 7 applied to the holder member of Figure l, the latter being shown in block diagram form only;

Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 7, but illustrating a modied lubricating body in accordance with my invention; and

Figure 10 illustrates a further form of lubricating body applied to the holder member of Figure 8.

General description Reference numeral 10 of Figure 1 generally indicates a familiar `form of traction motor suspension bearing provided with a yliner or shell 11 forming thev actu-al bearing for the Wheel axle 12. Associated with these is a motor suspension bearing cap or axle cap 13 secured to the motor suspension bear-ing by bolts 14 and provided with an oil reservoir 15.

The lubricator assembly generally indicated at 16 is employed to lift oil from the reservoir 1S and applyit to the. axle 12 through the window opening 17 in the shell or liner 111.

The lubricating assembly 16 comprises a lubricating wick or body 20 received .in a tubular housing, trough or holder member 22 that is suspended from a carrier assembly 24 which is in turn secured to the cover 26 of the axle cap. A

The specifics of the carrier assembly 24 are fully disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 805,408,

led April 10, 1959, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated -by reference in interests of brevity. Generally speaking, however, the carrier assembly comprises a pair of spaced brackets or side members 30 fixed to the axle cap cover plate by appropriate rivets 34 (cover plate 26 is customarily secured in place by appropriate bolts that are not shown). The brackets or side members 30 are formed with Wings or tracks 36 (see Figure '3) that slidably engage the respective pairs of lingers 38 (see Figure 2) forming a part of the holder member 22.

The holder member Z2 is biased in the direction of window opening 17 by appropriate torsion springs 40, one on each side of the lubricating assembly, the holder member being formed With Wings 42 to receive one end of each spring and the other end of each spring bearing against a' spring pin 32 secured between side members 3i).

The lubricating vbody 20 is formed with an arcuate applicator surface 44 that is made complementary to the external surface of axle 12 which it is pressed against by the springs 40.

The lubricating body 20` of the present invention is formed from a block-'like body 46 (see Figure 5) which is bent to the conguration of Figure 1 so that one end 4S thereof will depend into the oil reservoir 15 and the other end 50 will be positioned in the Window opening 17.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate modified lubricating bodies 46a and 46h that may be employed in place of the body 2t) of Figure 1.

Specific description The block-like bodies 46 from which lubricating bodies 20 are "formed may be stamped from a blank 6) (see Figure 4) in the form of felt sheeting which may be of any conventional type, but which preferably is of the 1 portion 79 of the block or body.

type employing alternate layers 57. and 59 of felt and woven fabric'comprised of high capillary action strands in the form of a plain basket weave, such as that employed in making one form of lubricating body disclosed in'my said Patent No. 2,708,611. The Vfelt and the fabric Y i of such a sheeting are pressed together so that the sheeting is a unitary mass held together by lthe felt fibers felting to- Ygether through the mesh of the fabric material. The

blocks or bodies are of generally parallelepiped contigurations having rectangular transverse cross-sectional configurations inwhich the maximum dimension of the latter is to extend'parallel to the journal (see FigureZ).

Prior to the operation that results in the formation of blocksor bodies 46, the blank 60 is oriented so that the 4blocks or bodies 46 are formed with'the woven'fabric cuton a biasof substantially i45 degrees with respect to the warp'and'woof threads forming they woven fabrics. A s disclosed in my Patent No.'2,768,0`35, this positioning leaves noiwarp or woof threads of the woven fabricparallel to, or substantially parallel `to,the end of the block or body that is to contact the -axle 16. For purposes of Ythis disclosure, it is assumed Ythat theY warp threads Vof the high lift fabric extend parallel to, sides V61 of the blank, while the Woof threads extend parallel to the blank sides163. v

-As indicated in Figure 4, may be kformed lfrom a single blank 60 with substantially the' positioning illustrated, though lit is to be understood that any desired stamping or other forming arrangement may be employed which ywill eiect the most eicient use of thelaminated felt material forming the blank 60. t

further processed by being slitvo'r cut as at 70 (see Figures 6 and?) which cut is madeparallel to the alternate layers `of felt and woven fabric and approximately at the center ofthe body. ln this embodiment of the invention; the slit or cut 70 extends from one end 48 of the block Yor body 46 to a point 74 spaced vfrorrrthe other end'Y 50 80 to even up end 48 of the body 46. The'body 46 `is `so bent that the Wide sides 82 and 84 are formed to dene concave and convex surfaces 86 and 88, respectively, and it will be noted that, laterally of the body 46, laminations or layers 78 extend longitudinally of the axis of axle 12,

'and thus longitudinally of the axis of curved or arcuate The formation of the cut or slit 70 a plurality of blocks'orl bodies l the greater radius on the convex side ofthe body, and

Vthe resulting uneven' ends V'S9v are trimmed to provide a uniformly shaped body. t

The embodiment of Figures 6-,8 may then be applied to holder member 22 as indicated in YFigure 8l (wherein member 22 is shown only diagrammatically), holder 22 being proportioned to snuglyfengage body 46 and hold it at the desired degree of curvature. The two laminations or layers 78 are Vsecured together (to hold them in place) at the lower end of the 'body by-spaced rivets 90; also, spacedY rivets 92 extend between opposite sides of the holder 22 and through the laminations or layers '78. It has been found convenient totinsert the block or body 46 in holder 22 to initiallyprow'detthe bendingV desired; While this facilitates the processingV of thelubricator, the curvature desired may be formed in any suitablemanner. Arcuate surface 44 may be formed atY any convenient point in the manufacturing process, asv may the trimming ofends'89.` ,Y )n

In the embodiment'of FigureV Y9, the laminations or layers 78 are bonded together by a layer of `lubricant resistant adhesive 100 which may be Vof an'y suitable type, such as that made and sold under the trademark -Hycar by B. F. Goodrich Chemical Company of Akro'n,rOhio. The

'the rivets 90 may be eliminated; though rivets '.92 are /Inaccordance with one embodiment of my invention, theiblock or body 46 that forms Va lubricating body 20 isV preferablyV applied as in the embodiment of 'Figure 8. Holder 2.2 may lserve as a mold in whichwthe Ybody or block is inserted beforeadhesive 100fsets, whereby the desired curvature is automatically obtained( t In the embodiment of Figure l0, Vthe lubricating body 46bris formed in much Ythe same manner asr indicated in VVFigures 6 andf7, except lthat the cut or slit 70a extends the` entire length of the lubricating body. Prior to the Y bending and trimming' of thelubric'ating body'of Figure in the block or body 46 makes it possible to bend the block or body'46 to curvatures over'angles in excess of'30 degrees on a Y will effect the extreme tensioning and compacting of the n vfelt bers above referred to which tests have showed tend to destroy the continuity of the capillary structure of the wicking material at the sides 82 and 84 of 'body 46. |I'he result is thatV` the lubricating body 46, when cut or slit and bentas illustrated, willl effectively raise oil to theY -axle12 in much the same mnner as it wouldA if itwere Y VThe alternate layers of felt 57 and l0, arsuitable lubricant resistant adhesive, such as that specified above, is applied between the two laminations or layers 7811, and beforethe adhesivesetsor hardens, the body is bent, Vas by being inserted inrholder 22, and

Ytrimmed (as describedV above).Y Arcuate applicator surlface 44a may be Vformed in any suitablemanner. e

The holder member 22 is more particularly 'described in my vsaid copendingY Vapplication Se'riaLNo. 805,408, but as indicated in Figuresl and 2, it comprises a pair of'side members 150 secured to arcuate bottom and itop members 152 and 154, respectively, by tabs 156 integral with these` Ymember 160 thatv is lsecured'togh'older member 22 by tabs'164 and the rivets 92. f Y

Y woven fabric 59 will extend parallel to the axisof the journal 12 as indi- Y cated in Figure 2,v which effects a continuous wiping action onfthe. journal alongv the' width of the lubricating body in'accordance lwith the invention described in my Y said U.S. Patent No. 2,768,035.'`

or bodies 46,r 46a and 46b are approximately eight inches long, four inches wide and one inch thick. YBody 46 1s cut or slit to within approximately-1V; inchesjof k'surface 44. Blanks 60 are approximately V37 by 42'inches .and

providettwenty blocks orV bodies from each blank.' The blocks or'bodies are bent over an angle of sixty'degrees on a radiusY measuring. oneY inch-.at thevconcavetside of unbent before application to the window 16, since the, n

dividing of the body, over the portion thereof that is to be curved into physically separate laminations provides relatively thin layers thatwill bend without setting up the undesirable conditions mentioned above.V

`The bending of the block or body 46 eifects a ditsplacement of laminations or layers 78 longitudinally of the block or body as indicated in Figure 7, because of the body. Holder 22 inches rectilineareportions l120` and 122 (on the order of 1% inc h long) oueither-side of curvilinear portion 124 to provide an improved restraining action on the lubricatingbodies. End 50 of the .lubrieating body should project outwardly of the holder 22 In successfulk embodiments of the invention, theblocks y the radius of the journal 12 to which these embodiments are applied.

However, the dimensions of the blocks or bodies may be varied to suit varying installation requirements, and the1 specific dimensions mentioned are given as exemplary on y.

Blocks or bodies 46 alternately may be formed from elongate strips of felt (cut from felt sheeting to the width of bodies 46), which strips may be formed (in any suitable manner) for instance, from blank 60, or other suitable sheetings, and then processed as described above from the form suggested by Figure 5. This reduces wastage of the felt material to a minimum. Where the felt material contains the high capillary lift fabric described above, the sheeting should be so disposed when cut that the warp and woof strands of the high lift fabric are properly oriented (in the manner described above).

It Will thus be seen that I have provided a simplified lubricating body which permits the use of inexpensively made die structures and avoids unnecessary wastage of the felt material. Furthermore, the end 50 of lubricating body as indicated in Figure 12, is of minimum dimension vertically of window opening 16, which permits the Window opening 16 to be of minimum height thereby materially increasing the available bearing surface of liner 11. Also, smaller bearings may be employed where design considerations call for this.

Lubricating bodies Vof the types described in my said Patent No. 2,708,611 are customarily used in groups due to the commercial difficulty of making a single felt pad having sufficient applicator surface to cover the surface of the journal exposed in the window opening. This necessarily results in the existance of joints between felt bodies that extend transversely of the journal, Where the lubricant supplied is frequently well below desirable standards. The lubricators herein disclosed eliminate these joints and insure a uniform lubricant applicator action along the journal surface contacted by the lubricators.

The terms layer, layers, laminationf laminations and the like that are employed in the appended claims mean the layers or laminations formed by the cutting or slitting of the lubricator body and not the layers or laminatons 57 and 59, unless the latter are specically mentioned.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explain and illustrate my invention and the invention is not to be limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, since those skilled in the art who have my disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A lubricator comprising an elongate body of felt material of generally rectangular cross-sectional conguration and a tubular arcuate holder member through which said body extends, said holder member closely engaging said body and being received about an arcuate portion in said body, said holder member and said body curving to define concave and convex surfaces in the respective wide sides of said body, said body from one end thereof through said curved portion being bisected along the maximum dimension of said cross-sectional configuration to define said body into layers extending longitudinally of said body, said layers being longitudinally displaceable with respect to each other when said curved portion is formed, and means for securing said layers together in displaced relation. y

2. The method of forming a lubricator pad from a. blank of laminated felt sheeting including woven fabric sheets interposed between layers of felt, with the warp and Woof strands of said fabric sheets extending in the same directions, respectively, said method including cutting a block of material from said sheeting when oriented at a bias of substantially 45 degrees with respect to said warp and Woof strands, slitting said block lengthwise thereof from one end thereof a substantial distance along its midportion and parallel to said fabric sheets, forming at least a part of the slit portion of said block to deline a smoothly curving arc, and securing the slit portions together.

3. The method set forth in claim 2 wherein said slit portions are trimmed even at said one end of said block.V

4. A lubricator comprising an elongate body of capillary material of generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration, said body being formed with an arcuate portion curving to define convex and concave surfaces in the respective wide sides of said body, said body from one end thereof through said arcuate portion being divided along the maximum dimension of said cross-sectional configuration to define said body into layers extending longitudinally of the body, and means for holding said arcuate portion to its arcuate shape after said arcuate portion is formed, said means comprising a rigid arcuate tubular member in which said body is received.

5. The method of making a lubricator pad from a. blank of felt sheeting material provided with a multitude of generally parallel capillary strands interspersed therethrough having a greater capillary lift action than the felt of said sheeting material, said method including forming an elongate parallelepiped block from said sheeting material with said sheeting material oriented to dispose said strands in planes extending longitudinally of said block, slitting said block lengthwise thereof a substantial distance, and parallel to the planes of said strands, forming at least a part of the slit portion of said block to define a smoothly curving arc, and securing the slit portions together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 392,142 Wright Oct. 30, 1888 1,231,990 Bliss July 3, 1917 2,042,976 Aalto June 2, 1936 2,219,719 Carlson Oct. 29, 1940 

